Not Jeremy

Going pretty fast on the down at Bathampton Junction, in 1976 I think. You can see the remains of the station platform on the right and the rubble of the signalbox behind the junction signal. The junction has long since been reconfigured with single leads.

My uncle Norman, he is why I am so "interested" in railways(!) Fireman out of Gillingham before his National Service, always a source of great stories and jokes, much missed. Simon

MRJ issue 284 is now in stock down here in Titfieldshire. Edited by Barry Norman, it has a nice varied collection of articles and content, together with a thoughtful and upbeat editorial. My brief description and take on it is here. Subscribers issues are now being sent out, as are supplies to all other trade outlets and the newstrade. Happy reading and modelling! Simon

I'd better not mention the "pulled off" signal at Branksome on page 234 then, oops, I just did I know, let's have a shameless plug instead - the book is now up on my website, my more detailed take on it is here It's the heat don't you know..........

That's interesting as this new book suffers from the same problem as my 1979 Judge and Potts, albeit with a note added in this book that the missing tracks are featured on the previous page. This is not a criticism of this new book by the way, the situation arises as it has utilised the artwork from the earlier book courtesy of Colin Judge, which adds hugely to its value despite odd glitches noted above. In the meantime I keep seeing more things that are unbelievably good, not least a whole sequence of shots taken at Highbridge in the 1930s by Dr Ian C Allan, including a Fox Walker in light steam in the works - fantastic! And the first full frontal view I have ever seen of Highbridge East B box - just crying out to be modelled....

Well the book has arrived here in Bath and I have had a quick but complete canter through. Verdict - utterly wonderful. Lots of pictures I have not seen before, those of John Eyers via South West Circle particulary drew my eye - lots of lovely modelling detail. So much to like, brilliant modellers shots as mentioned above, a few of the beautiful GA Richardson images also included, some good examples of Ivo's work and a good sprinkling of pre BR, I could go on..... As observed re Bath Junction plan, OK a bit mixed over dates, but I can't find anything else "wrong" - I'm not looking for problems mind you. The writing is nice, the captions are good, the negative review above is incredibly mean spirited and wrong headed, just ignore it. The book will most certainly not get remaindered, more likely reprinted at a higher price owing to demand. I'm adding it to my collection, and thank you very much to Derek, Chris and George for producing it, a really nice book on a great subject. Simon Castens

Exactly so, and it is another book that it is worth tracking down. It was good for showing the earlier eras that have been mentioned above, as was Stephen Austin's "Somerset and Dorset Railway a view from the past". Good to hear that there are some earlier views in the new book under discussion too. There have been a lot of S&D books, which is no reason not to produce another one, or two or... I like Spamcans myself!

Oh dear, you've got me started now... I think the book you are after is "Scrubbing Days; Memories of a Great Western Lavatory Cleaner", one of those conveniently sized paperbacks from OPC, produced in a slightly bilious eau de Nil as I recall. It was written by a John Brush, whose lesser known brother Carbon penned "Ozone over Oswestry" for David and Charles, a fairly obscure book on tramways in the Welsh Marches. Of Course sales were as nothing compared to "Great Western Steam 17" from Bedford Bruton, a series that just ran and ran. Happy days indeed Being serious for a moment, as a history I think you'd be hard put to improve on Robin Atthill's Somerset and Dorset Railway, beautifully written it stands to this day I think. Of course it didn't have many pictures, but all these years later we can sit down with a copy alongside this splendid new book from Derek - how lucky are we! £35.95 expensive - utter tosh! Oops, I don't want to go sounding like a supercilious bookseller again, arf arf...

Or just possibly, paying a living and decent wage for all of these jobs, and all of us living with the consequently slightly higher prices of everything without endlessly belly-aching? A completely vain hope I am sure.....

Hi Chris It is possible but very unlikely, as of this morning my supplier hadn't yet received the book. I am definitely getting it in though, it will be interesting to see what it is and what it isn't. Going back to Derek Phillips, what was great about his earlier book from Fox Copies available here was that the picture subjects were very "different" to those of Ivo Peters, whose work had sort of dominated the subject up until then through all his wonderful OPC books. Lots of freight for example, and detailed shots along the branch. This is not to take anything away from Ivo's wonderful pictures of course, but on which basis this book might be something a bit different? It's hot, I'm not fancying doing any work, so I'll bore you all with a story.... Long story short; in summer of 1977 I was fortunate to find myself the sole guest of Ivo Peters in his flat in the Royal Crescent. Having shown me around his collection of things S&D he sat me down and asked what I would like to look at first. As I recall he suggested his 1956 album as being a "good vintage" - which it certainly was. He was completely hospitable and open, he signed my books (of his, bought from "Whitemans" of course) and answered all of my questions quite happily. In the course of the afternoon, I asked him many things, including why he hadn't taken more photographs of Radstock, I think, to which his candid reply was that he didn't like it much as a subject, but also adding that he thought it would be there forever.. He was such a gentleman to me, made me feel very welcome, and when I left (hours later and after tea) he said I was very welcome to return to see him again more or less whenever I liked, which in the event I never did, for one reason and another. My memory of the afternoon remains though, Ivo was very generous and welcoming to me. All these years later I am privileged to know Julian a bit, and he is cast from the same mould, a top bloke. Perhaps we need a new book of Ivo Peters pictures?! Simon

The book hasn't arrived yet, probably in a siding at Felixstowe.... It is on order though and I am looking forward to seeing it myself. Derek is a great bloke, always good to talk to, and his earlier book on the S&D published by Fox in Yeovil all those years ago is really worth getting hold of. There are fewer ex enginemen around these days, over many years I have had huge pleasure listening to them and of course reading their books and articles. Such fantastic characters, Peter Smith is possibly the doyen of the ex S&D men, with his wonderfully well written "Mendips Engineman". Great Days PS In the OPC Historical Survey book mentioned above, the Templecombe plan managed to omit all of the tracks!! I kid you not, take a look.... As for a "proper" book on the S&D as alluded to above, I'd love to publish one but do wonder how commercial such a proposition would prove to be here in the 21st Century? I did produce "Somerset and Dorset Swansong", a very fine book if I say so myself, picture from inside appended, still available, a snip at £14.95 for a whole copy!

They are all such fascinating if not beautiful structures, not least Harling Road, thank for sharing more pictures of it. What a lovely building, full of architectural detail and a quality of construction that you just don't get any more, least of all on structures destined for the use of the public. A great shame it is to go, If I ever won the lottery I'd buy it and remove to elsewhere and rebuild it. I don't do the Lottery, but that is of course nothing against Harling Road

Altogether different weather down in Cornwall in the summer of 1976, morning of Monday 2nd August.

Barnstaple Junction it is, seen from another angle here on the same day. Simon

The summer of 1976, w/c 2nd August, the week of my Railrover. Simon

Advanced printed copies coming out from the printers next week, after which we should be able to give a likely delivery date. The book contains 5 images from Wales, 3 of sheds in South Wales, 1 in West Wales and one in North Wales(!) I'm afraid I'm unable to supply into Europe given the EU's new VAT regulations, I am currently looking in to possible solutions to this problem. Simon

Ex works Crompton running into Westbury on a summer's evening in 1976.

I am really not a very good photographer, nonetheless here are a few of my snaps taken on a week's Railrovering in the summer of '76 - happy days! Simon

Here's my contribution, St Erth in 1976, still despatching milk to London. "Western Reliance" is the loco. This picture (suitably cleaned up and improved) will be appearing in Wild Swan's new book on diesel hydraulics, see here for a few more details. simon

Here he is cheerfully pulling away from the station, I'm sure he gave us all a toot!

Shome mishtake surely, it was beautiful!

One of the 47 hauled diverted trains opens up as it passes the signal box on the same day, it made a great noise! This snap gives you a better idea of the liquidity of the weather on the day. By the way, I think the last picture may be Inter City livery rather than Scotrail(?) I do like a good 47, under appreciated at the time possibly... Simon

Scotrail liveried 47 during diversions at Garsdale, scheduled to be the last weekend of such things before closure of the Settle and Carlisle, which happily didn't happen. It was ever so wet, which I think amused the driver of this 47 which was on a service train stopping at the station! Captain Kernow was in attendance and will have taken a better picture than mine... Simon

At the printers and due in the next few weeks, a significant new railway book in a brand new format and style from Wild Swan. Covering an enduringly popular subject which I know is dear to the hearts of many of us on RMweb, Diesel Hydraulics a colour retrospective is authored and put together by Andrew Vines, a very competent photographer and enthusiast for all things hydraulic. Andrew's own work has already appeared in print with his 2006 Ian Allan book "Diesels in the Highlands" and in this new book he has drawn upon various resources and authorities on the subject in order to give readers as comprehensive and well informed an account as possible, all of which are duly acknowledged in the text. All of the photographs, with few if any exceptions, have not been seen in print before. They include the work of Andrew, his father and numerous other photographers, some well known, images having been purchased by Andrew via the Internet over many years. There is even one photograph taken by me - but don't let that put you off... In a new departure for Wild Swan the book is produced to a 215 X 275 landscape format. It has 128 pages, full colour glazed board covers and is printed on to high quality stock gloss art paper. The design and colour work has been carried out to a very high standard by Andrew and an industry leading talent and we are both very pleased with the way that the whole thing has come out. I hope it is the first of a series of Wild Swan books that will celebrate and reflect and record our railway scene in colour and to this end various other subjects and areas are currently being looked at. The idea, at least, is that the text should be as important and informative as the images, something which is not always easy to achieve when you are working from unknown collections or photographs taken by other people. Unlike so very many colour albums of this type, the captions in this book are extensively researched and thoughtfully written, and provide a wealth of information on the locomotives themselves, the trains being worked, the traffic being carried and the locations and lines that are pictured. There are also interesting observations on various aspects of the subject, several of which I knew nothing about until I read Andrew's text, together with some thoughtful reflections upon some of the issues that the railway faced fifty or so years ago. There are some unusual views and locations to tempt you, together with favourites of course, and all hydraulic classes are covered. Priced at £23.95 and available very soon, direct from Wild Swan or of course from all good quality booksellers and suppliers. I can hear those Maybachs from here already..... Simon

If Warley happens this year, which I hope it does, then I will definitely be attending with Wild Swan Books. I am booked in and very much hoping that the show takes place. If it does then I look forward to meeting with and talking to as many folk over the weekend as is possible. Whether it is busy or quiet, no matter how much money I do or don't take, it will be just great to be back there. I will be, and am, very grateful to all of the organisers for all of their hard work - no doubt all made more difficult and challenging by the prevailing situation. What I will most definitely not be doing is worrying myself witless about what might or might not happen, as some folk appear to be. I am very grateful to have been double jabbed, have read the statistics, listened to news reports and am happy with the situation. Of course there is a risk. "Zero risk" is about as likely as perpetual motion, although some of the pointless drivelling and pontificating guff in this thread would appear to challenge this notion. I will very much miss seeing Owen Gibbon and will be remembering him with affection. I absolutely respect anyone else who makes any different judgment, and will quite understand if I don't see some people there at all, or perhaps some folk still wearing masks. I will not feel any need to comment on anyone else's behaviour, just keeping myself together and going hopefully forwards is quite challenging enough for me. Finally, it absolutely astonishes me to read that the exercising of one's personal judgement rather than being told what to do by the state is seen by some folk as "being cast to the Lions". History rather indicates the opposite I think. Simon OK Barry, can I have that packet of gobstoppers now....